A broadband single-chip transceiver for multi-nuclear NMR probes

Area of Science:

• Magnetic Resonance
• Integrated Circuits
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) probes are crucial for spectroscopy.
• Existing NMR systems often require bulky and complex hardware.
• Miniaturization is key for developing portable and versatile NMR devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an integrated broadband complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) single-chip transceiver.
• To enable the realization of multi-nuclear pulsed NMR probes.
• To demonstrate its application in multi-nuclear NMR spectroscopy.

Main Methods:

• Designed and fabricated a single-chip transceiver using CMOS technology.
• Integrated radio-frequency (RF) power amplifier, low-noise RF preamplifier, frequency mixer, audio-frequency amplifier, and transmit-receive switches.
• Interfaced the transceiver with on-chip microcoils and external LC resonators (1 MHz to 1 GHz).

Main Results:

• Achieved a single-chip transceiver with dimensions of approximately 1 mm².
• Demonstrated operation across a broad frequency range (1 MHz to 1 GHz).
• Attained a (1)H spin sensitivity of 1.5 × 10(13) spins/Hz(1/2) at 7 T using an integrated microcoil.

Conclusions:

• The developed single-chip transceiver is suitable for multi-nuclear pulsed NMR probes.
• This technology facilitates high-sensitivity NMR spectroscopy with miniaturized systems.
• The integrated solution offers a pathway towards more accessible and portable NMR applications.